HC nod for Kala Ghoda festival

The committee shall submit a report within four weeks after the festival concludes, the court said.

The Kala Ghoda festival has international reputation and has witnessed people’s participation increase manifold over the years.

Giving its nod to the organisers of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, the Bombay High Court Thursday observed that the festival has international reputation and has witnessed people’s participation increase manifold over the years.

The HC was hearing a petition filed last week against the festival, which is scheduled to start from February 1.
A division bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice G S Kulkarni directed the Maharashtra Director General of Police, BMC commissioner and state chief secretary to appoint a committee of three senior officials from each department and a lawyer.

The committee shall submit a report within four weeks after the festival concludes, the court said.

The court’s direction comes after the organisers submitted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from various departments and gave an undertaking that they would neither use drums nor organise dance performances during the festival.

“The state shall also appoint a senior person from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to provide necessary equipment for measuring and monitoring decibel levels,” said Justice Kanade.

The petition by resident Berges Malu stated, “Many residents are senior citizens, including the parents of the petitioner and in the event of fire, medical emergencies or terror strike, it would be virtually impossible for any emergency vehicle to enter the main area where the festival is conducted, to attend to the residents and public.”